Lois went home and waited for Oliver. It was past time for him to arrive.
It was possible that he was working late, but it was more likely he was still with Chloe. Lois had been avoiding confrontation, which wasn't like her as anyone at work could have attested to or anyone who had been a victim of her many exposés. In fact, confrontational would have been one of the first adjectives selected if someone was asked to describe her. It was time to bring some things out into the open.
She was there on the couch when he finally came home around 11:00. "Lois, you're still up?"
"How's Chloe?" she asked, a pointed remark maybe to let him know she wanted no BS, but also because she was genuinely concerned for her though she'd probably never have the same relationship with her cousin that they'd had when they were kids.
"She's, uh, coping, I guess. I convinced her it was better he rot in prison than her. You know Kansas hasn't executed anyone in years, but I think they just may make an exception for him."
She shuddered, and it didn't go unnoticed. "You love him, don't you?"
She appreciated that it was not an accusation but rather a sad comment, so she answered him as honestly as possible. "I love the man he could have been. Sometimes I think I catch glimpses of that person, but I'm probably fooling myself. And you. Do you still have feelings for her?"
"I suppose so. I guess a part of me always will."
"Then why, Ollie? Why did you marry me? Why not Chloe?"
"Chloe is a fine woman, but she's jaded."
"And I'm not?"
"No, you're not. At least, not the way she is. She doesn't believe that the world, that life, can be good again. You do. I read it in your stories. And you see the good in people who don't see the good in themselves. You give me hope, you give your readers hope. I love that about you."
It was a sweet thing for him to say. She wished she had someone she could go to for hope and inspiration. "And we enjoy each other's company."
"We do. You always make me laugh, Legs. You cheer me up when no one else can. You're my drinking buddy, my ear when I need to talk. There are people that have been married decades who aren't as close as we are. We make a good team."
"We do, but there are parts of your life you still shut me out of."
"Like?"
"Like with Chloe. I think you wish you had chosen her even if the honor in you refuses to admit it."
He suddenly found his shoes very interesting.
"But that's not all. I'm a tough girl. I have a third degree black belt, I had combat training growing up that any private in the military would envy, and I've proven I can keep my head and make good tactical decisions in a crisis over and over again."
"I know all that," Oliver said.
"I know you do. So why do you still turn to Chloe when the chips are down? I could forgive an affair that's in the past, but I can't forgive one that's happening right now even if it's only an affair of the heart. Why when you needed to bring Ultraman down was she your first choice? And don't give me any crap."
"I don't know," he said softly.
"Well, I have a theory, but that's neither here nor there. I think you owe it to me, to Chloe, and to yourself to find out why that is."
"Are-are you asking me for a divorce?"
"I'm not asking for anything other than an answer, but I do think it wise if we separated for the time being until this all gets sorted out."
"Is this about me and Chloe or you and Luthor?"
"I meant what I said before. I am not in love with him, but I am inexplicably drawn to him."
"That's not so surprising, knowing you were with him in another world. Some would argue that souls are connected, destined to cross paths whatever the circumstances. We can try to fight it, reason with it, but some things are just meant to be."
She laughed self-deprecatingly. "That'd be like fate, to tie my destiny with a serial killer from outer space."
"But I don't think you see him like that," he said. "You know if anyone could change another person, I believe you could. I know you make me want to be a better man, to deserve you."
"I wish you would stop talking about me like I'm some kind of saint or a prize, like you have to prove yourself worthy. It drives me crazy. I am plenty flawed, and you already are a good man. I love you, Ollie, but we can't continue to sweep our problems under the rug."
"And I love you, but I guess you're right about one thing: we need some space. I'll pack my bags."
"Speaking of Clark, he's threatening to lawyer up. Do you think he stands a chance?"
"A very good chance of walking away with a lighter sentencing than he should. That's why I've been thinking he should be tried in Smallville. That's the location of his primary address and where a good number of his murders happened, so I don't think it's going to be a problem getting the trial held there. A jury of his peers will remember the sons and daughters Smallville lost."
"And try bribing a small-town judge or turning a jury who witnessed the devastation of their neighbors first hand. Small town residents are practically family. City people just happen to live in the same space."
"Agreed. You still feeling bad about taking his powers away?"
"Yes. I think a kryptonite cell would have been the better choice, but I do want to see justice served. That hasn't changed."
"And God willing, it will be."